The History of Dreams Interpretation

Updated on December 29, 2009

History

I have to say the Dream Interpretation is one among many of my passions. The followinf is from my group The Zodiac Group, which contains many pages on differnt types of New Age topics, all of which I love. My group members love these topics too. If you are interested please stop by, become a member, and check it all out. http://www.JewelsDesigns.org click on the group link at the top of the page (menu).

The history of Dreams:

Dream Interpretation dates back to 3000-4000 B.C. where they were documented on tablets. We have been fascinated with dreams and strive to understand them. In some societies, people were unable to distinguish between the dream world and the waking world, and some even choose not to make the distinction. They saw the dream world as an extension of the real world. The only thing was that it was more powerful.

In Greek and Roman times, dreams were seen as religious. They were direct messages from the gods or the dead. Their dreams helped them understand what course to take or solutions on what action to take. They believed that dream predicted and warned about the future. Shrines were built for people to go to dream, hoping they would get a message. The power of dreams was very strong they helped decide on political action as well as military war strategy. Aristotle believed dreams were able to diagnose illness and predict the onset of diseases.

In Egypt, priests also acted as dream interpreters. Their dreams were recorded in hieroglyphics. People who had vivid dreams were considered blessed and special. These people were looked up to and seen as divinely gifted.

The Chinese believed that the soul leaves the body to go into the dream world. They als believed if a person was awakened suddenly, the soul might not return to the body. Today some Chinese people will not use alarm clocks, for this reason.

Some Native Americans and Mexican tribes share the notion of a distinct dream dimention. They believe that their ancestors live in their dreams and take on non-human forms like plants. through their dreams they can have contact with their ancestors. Dreams also help with their mission or role in life.

In the Middle Ages, dreams were seen as evil and temptations from the devil, gave humans poisonous thoughts. They lead people down the wrong path.

In the early 19th century dreams were dismissed as stemming from anxiety, household noise or indigestion. Later in the 19th century Sigmund Freud revived the importance of dreams and the need for interpretation. He revolutionized the study of dreams.

People have always strived to interpret dreams. Even the bible has several references to dreams (700).

Sigmund Freud:

Considered the father of psychoanalysis. Freud (1856-1939) revolutionized the study of dreams. Freud analyzed dreams to understand personalities. He believed that nothing you did was by chance, ever action and thought is motivated by the unconscious at some level. He believe that your repressed impulses were released in your dreams He believed that the unconscious expresses itself in a symbolic language. He categorizes aspects of the mind into three parts: Id, Ego,and Superego

When you are awake the impulses and desires of the id are suppressed by the superego. Through dreams you are able to glimpse the id (unconscious). Because your guards are down during dream state, your unconscious has the dream state, your unconscious has the opportunity to act out and express the hidden desires of the id. The desires of the id can, at times, be so disturbing and even psychologically harmful that a "censor" comes into play and translations the id's disturbing content into a more acceptable symbolic form. This helps to preserve sleep and prevent you from waking up shocked at the images. As a result, confusion and cryptic dream images occur. The reason we struggle to recall are dreams, according to Freud, is because of the superego is at work. it's doing its job its protecting the conscious mind from disturbing images and desires conjured up by the unconscious mind.

Alfred Adler:

Adler (1870-1937) believed that dreams are an important tool to have control over your waking life. He believed dreams were problem solving devices. Dreams needed to be brought to the surface and interpreted so that you could better understand your problems. He thought that you should learn from your dreams and incorporate then into your waking life. He believed there was a correlation between your dreams and your daily life. The more dreams you have the more problems you have. The less dreams the less problems and the more psychologically healthy you are.

Adler believed that control, power and motivation was the driving force behind your behavior (Freud believed it was your sexual impulses). Alder also believed that actions and behavior are not ruled by a persons unconscious. He believed that the strive for perfection and need for control are what causes people to do the things they do.. He also believed that the conscious and unconscious did not function against each other, they act the same way if your asleep or awake.

Adlers views on dreams are that they are an open pathway toward your true thoughts, emotions and actions. In your dreams you see your aggressive impulses and desires. Dreams are a way of overcompensating for the shortcomings in your life, then you may find it easier to lash out at your boss within the comfort and safety of your dream. It's a more socially acceptable satisfaction.